Unitary intraocular lens providing four-point support

Abstract

An intraocular lens suitable for implantation providing four points of supporting contact within the eye and having, in unitary construction, a generally circular central lens body having, in the circular plane of the lens, centered about the 12:00 o'clock position a flat tab for manipulating the device during implantation or removal, and, in definition relative to a projection in the same plane defined by the tab and lens body, two flexible haptic lines symmetrically centered about the 6:00 o'clock position emerging between the 4:00-5:30 and 6:30-8:00 regions, respectively, which haptic lines radiate away from the central lens body following arcs defined by a common radius 0.40-0.60 times the planar radius of the central lens body; wherein said haptics symmetrically trace smooth, diverging curves ("knees") ranging from 30 DEG -50 DEG and proceed, respectively, parallel to lines tangent to the central lens body at points in the region 7:30-8:30 and 3:30-4:30, respectively; wherein each haptic terminates in identical, generally circular, discs ("footplates") in the common plane defined by the haptics, radiating outward and tangent to the medial surface of the haptic with said footplate having a radius ranging from 0.15-0.25 times the radius of the central lens body; wherein the outer perimeter of the two footplates and the outer perimeter of the two knees defined by said diverging curves of the haptics provide the four points of supporting contact in the anterior angle (anterior chamber placement), in the ciliary sulcus (posterior chamber placement), or in the capsular sac (posterior chamber placement).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An intraocular lens providing four point support comprising a generally circular central lens body and two flexible members symmetrically centered bout the 6:00 o'clock position of the central lens body; wherein said flexible members emerge from the periphery of the central lens body between the 4:00-5:30 o'clock and 6:30-8:00 o'clock regions, respectively; and wherein said flexible members radiate away from the central lens body following arcs defined by a common radius 0.40 to 0.60 times the planar radius of the central lens body; and wherein said flexible members then trace smooth, diverging curves (knees) ranging from 30° to 50° and proceed, respectively, parallel to lines tangent to the central lens body at points in the regions 7:30 to 8:30 o'clock and 3:30 to 4:30 o'clock, respectively; and wherein each flexible member terminates in generally circular discs (footplates), which are oriented in the plane defined by the projection of the flexible members and the central lens body. 
     
     
       2. An intraocular lens accordingly to claim 1 wherein the footplates have a radius 0.15 to 0.25 times the radius of the central lens body. 
     
     
       3. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein the outer periphery of the footplates fall within an arc having a center in common with the center of the central lens body having a radius 2.0 to 3.0 times the radius of the central lens body; and wherein the outer perimeter of the knees falls within a similarly centered arc having a radius 1.8 to 2.7 times the central lens body radius. 
     
     
       4. An intraocular lens according to claim 3 wherein the knee radius is between 0.75 and 0.95 times the radius of the footplate radius. 
     
     
       5. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the central lens body is in the range of 4.0 to 7.0 mm. 
     
     
       6. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the lens body is in the range of 0.10 to 0.40 mm. 
     
     
       7. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein the distance from the center of the central lens body to the outside perimeter of either knee is in the range of 5.0 to 7.0 mm. 
     
     
       8. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 of unitary construction. 
     
     
       9. A intraocular lens providing four point support comprising a generally circular central lens body and two flexible members symmetrically centered about the 6:00 o'clock position of the central lens body; wherein said flexible members emerge from the periphery of the central lens body between the 4:00-5:30 o'clock and 6:30-8:00 o'clock regions, respectively; and wherein said flexible members radiate away from the central lens body following arcs defined by a common radius 0.40 to 0.60 times the planar radius of the central lens body; and wherein said flexible members then trace smooth, diverging curves (knees) ranging from 30° to 50° and proceed, respectively, parallel to lines tangent to the central lens body at points in the regions 7:30 to 8:30 o'clock and 3:30 to 4:30 o'clock, respectively; and wherein each flexible member terminates in generally circular discs (footplates), which are oriented in the plane defined by the projection of the flexible members and the central lens body; and wherein, centered about the 12:00 o'clock position, a positioning tab extending 0.5 to 2.5 mm from the central lens body.